At 31, I Finally Learned How to Rest

A Birthday Trip to Croatia!

I just turned 31 and finally have learned turning off my “work brain”.

But how?

My mind is always consumed with work, constantly buzzing with tasks and deadlines. I’ve tried so hard to force myself to rest, to simply do nothing. I even typed “How to stop thinking about work?” into a search engine.

The suggestions? Jogging. Gym. Baking. Journaling. Meditating. Yoga. Watching movies. Babysitting. Sleeping. Taking a holiday.

None of these truly helped— until my recent trip to Croatia.

My husband and I spent 8 days there, and it wasn’t the usual laid-back vacation we’re used to. Normally, we don’t plan much. But in Croatia, there’s just so much to do. Hiking, exploring waterfalls, visiting the Blue Cave, islands hopping, hunting for quirky bookshops (picture books yayyy!!), devouring seafood I can’t find in the UK, and swimming in the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea (luxurious, right?).

We were constantly on the move—exploring, meeting new people, soaking up the culture, and enjoying the perfect weather. I didn’t have time to think about work, and by the end of each day, I didn’t even have the energy to try. My mind was occupied with planning where to go, what to do, and what to eat next.

That’s when I realised — my work brain had switched off. This was a real vacation.

Normally, when we travel, we take it slow and go with the flow. But in Croatia, with so much to experience, a little planning was necessary to make the most of our time.

It wasn’t until the sixth day that I realised something remarkable—I hadn’t been thinking about work at all.

I missed illustrating. I missed my iPad (although, for some reason, that sounds creepy). I missed bringing colour to my drafts and watching my illustrations come to life.

I still sketched during the trip, though—simply because I love observing my surroundings through art. But this time, it wasn’t work. It was pure enjoyment.

Here are a few snapshots from my trip and pages from my sketchbook.

hikes, waterfalls, pizza faces, the blues

I made a sketch and gave it to Mia and Mara, baristas we met in Croatia. They are just so soooo lovely!

swimming

gift for myself and more bluesssss

Do you have the same struggle as me? How do you allow yourself to rest? Share your experiences with me in the comment!

If you are interested to buy my zine —The Anxiety Book for yourself or loved ones, you can find it on my website. I shared the process of making it in my previous post. Go and check that out!